The Best Pizza Near Chez Noir, by the Record

A barn-style pizza spot in Aptos with soft colors, dark green-framed doors, and a communal feel that makes the whole thing read like a California farmhouse that stumbled into Naples. The pies lean Italian in a specific, considered way, and the menu wanders pleasantly into fried sardines and prosciutto broth before circling back to where it belongs. The house-made pistachio ice cream is apparently non-negotiable. The Michelin Guide gave it a Bib Gourmand.

1. Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand

A pizzeria in Acireale near Piazza Duomo where the dough itself is the argument: there's the classic Neapolitan, and then a Sicilian version made with ancient organic grains they've named after the place. Fried starters, including an arancino made with local cavolo trunzu, ease you in before the pizzas arrive loaded with carefully sourced ingredients. The wine list runs deeper than you'd expect, and the menu shifts with the seasons.

1. 50 Top Pizza 50 Top Pizza Italy Excellent Pizzerias